The whole is greater than the sum of its parts around here at Alstin. I know I’ve described a fellow team member as “my right arm” on a project more than once. That’s at the core of why the a-team became an employee blog.
Although I’m the editor and a frequent blogger for the site, I didn’t want this destination on the web to be a one-woman show. As my first year of editing/blogging for Alstin winds down, I can also tell you that shining the spotlight on Alstin as a “whole” through our collective posts has been such a worthwhile effort.
It takes almost no time at all to set-up the framework for a blog through a free service like Word Press. However, there’s lots to consider before you launch a blog. Here are some of the very basics:
Look before you leap: I turn to blogs every day for information, insights, humor, tips, industry news (Oh Cheezhead, how I miss you!) you name it. I evaluated what it was that kept me coming back for more and made a list. (Note: Looking for more great HR blogs? Bookmark: RecruitingBlogs, FistfulofTalent and ERE.)
Establish some goals: So what was I really hoping to accomplish with this blog? Build Alstin’s brand. Show off our company’s “personality.” Engage the team. Attract talent. Connect with others. Drive sales. Yes to all that and more. There wasn’t a singular mission – is there ever really one singular motivator for anything? – but I wanted the potential a blog has to be fully considered and become part of the strategy.
Tap into a good designer: I’ve got a big advantage. I have the likes of Jay Scheuerle a few paces from my office. (He designed the header graphic and the icons that occasionally populate our posts. On top of that he’s a great writer too.) Even if you don’t have an in-house designer, be sure to make plenty of consideration to the look and feel of your blog and ask for help when you need it. Our short attention spans are getting shorter. I know I’ve clicked on a promising link only to see an amateurish page and click away before giving the content a chance.
Stay focused, but don’t be afraid to mix it up: Alstin’s blog content is focused on offering you opinions, ideas and new media solutions for talent acquisition, retention and employee engagement. For the reader (and the writers!) we’ve gotta diverge from the HR talk sometimes. It’s a nice break and it keeps things interesting. Want to see what I mean? Check out our Favorite Things posts and views from the lighter side at the Water Cooler.
Keep it fresh: Another turn-off – blogs that have sporadic or very dated posts. I map out a schedule a month ahead of time. I know who is writing what so we don’t have any overlap and make sure that for each business day there’s something new. If someone needs more time, no worries. That’s my gig. I’ll write up something and fill in the blank. Selecting an editor that can provide an endless stream of ideas on what to write about, contribute as a writer, edit copy, source great photos – a person who can be a true content manager – will keep things on target.
No commercials! Keep it real: We’ve got amazing subject matter experts. We’re doing cool things for our clients. And we don’t want to read posts that are veiled ads any more than you do. A successful blog will be about sharing knowledge, not a sales pitch. For me, it is also important to keep in mind that the posts should be written just as much for my team’s benefit as it is for people outside the company. Posts need to be authentic, useful and highly informative.
Promote and network: Our blog’s URL is everywhere Alstin is electronically and in print. We send out weekly eblasts to our clients and subscribers with links to the latest posts. You’ll see several of us commenting on other blogs to gain additional exposure and you better believe we’re chatting it up whenever we can. Use your internal and external networks to make sure people know what your are up to. They will take notice.
Have fun: I couldn’t wait to get this blog going and the excitement has never diminished. However, I also recognize and respect that not every employee wants to participate in writing content for it. No problem and comes with no demerits. 
Have patience: I think the first week we were up and running our blog was viewed mostly by Alstin employees and my mom. Comments were slow to come, but they did! Then through team efforts to promote and network, so did the readers and the connections and the satisfaction of a job well done by all.
Author Bio:
Annette DeHaven, Alstin's Vice President, Operations, serves as right hand woman for an impressive roster of clients. Known for addressing problems head-on, Annette, who's led by example for more than 15 years, remembers crazy statistics, regularly spouts off mind-bending metrics, and recalls just about every field description for birds you've never heard of. 
Entries (RSS)